Farmers’ Market’s Candied Citrus Peels

From providing an extra boost of vitamin C to keeping colds at bay, citrus peel is your body’s best friend when the flu is tearing through town.

 Sure, you’ve had zest in orange marmalade and in lemon poppy seed loaf, but have you ever tried candied peels?  Yes, you can eat candy and fend off a cold.  Win win!

The Pasadena Farmers Market’s share their favorite recipe:

Ingredients:

6 oranges, 4 grapefruit, or 8 lemons, preferably organic

8 cups of water, plus several changes of water for boiling

6 cups of sugar, plus 1 cup for dusting.

Wash your chosen citrus fruit carefully to remove any dirt and edible wax.

Slice strips of peel from the fruit either by halving and juicing it, or cutting the peel off the entire fruit.

Slice the rinds into ¼-inch-wide strips. Try to retain some pith, so you can have a thicker and more chewy piece of candied peel.

Place the strips in a large pot, then pour cold water. Let it boil for a few minutes, then drain the pot into a large colander. Repeat the boiling-and-draining step three times.

Leave the drained strips in the colander, then put 8 cups of water in the stockpot and put in 6 cups of sugar. Stir and bring to a boil.

Lower the heat to a simmer before finally adding the citrus strips. Simmer until they look tender and translucent (about three hours).

Make sure you don’t let the sugar caramelize.

Scoop out the candied peels and arrange them on a baking rack to cool.

Roll the strips in the extra cup of sugar until each peel is evenly coated. Shake off excess sugar and let them dry overnight.

Now enjoy snacking on them with the family! Send us a picture if you make this recipe—we want to see how this wintertime treat turns out!

Pasadena Farmers’ Market Villa Parke Center is located at  363 East Villa Street. 

Pasadena Farmers’ Market Victory Park is located at 2900 block of North Sierra Madre Boulevard. For more information, call (626) 449-0179 or visit http://www.pasadenafarmersmarket.org